George Needham introduced Karen Cowan, President of Friends of the Delaware County District Library. Karen showed a video that highlighted the all volunteer work of the Friends of the Library. She stated that they have been a not for profit since 2008, celebrating 10 years in 2018. They have grown 30% in the past year and have 250 members and 70 active volunteers. The mission is to advocate and fundraise for the Library. They help create and maintain library interest, focus public attention on library services and needs, advocate for the library and its’ mission, raise funds to support programs and services, and receive, hold and disburse gifts of books, endowments, donations and bequests to the DCDL. They exist to build a “literary community” and to help adults and children learn continually. The primary fundraiser is a book sale. They also partner with businesses, have memberships, and seek grants and estate bequests. Friends of the DCDL makes decisions with three questions in mind – 1 – Does it advocate for DCDL?, 2 – Does it raise funds?, 3 – Does it increase awareness of the Friends of the Library?

Friends sponsors programs such as Summer Reading Club, authors visits such as Todd Cummings and Piper Kerman. FOL are active in the community – members of Powell and Delaware Chambers and participating in Lollipop concerts and First Friday. 2018 is off to a good start, Karen reported, with a $20K grant to the DCDL, a Summer Young Writers Workshop scheduled, and a levy campaign to work hard on. Also, the original author of “Pete the Cat,” Eric Litwin, will be at OWU on June 9th, sponsored by the Robert F. Beard Family Foundation. Three book sales are also scheduled.

Challenges were identified as capacity, partnership needs and time to complete all of the tasks needed. Karen provided multiple ways that Rotary members can help the FOL – speak positively of the FOL when asked, sponsor events or items for the fundraising, talk to employees about joining their boards, and let Karen know if there is a charitable element to our organization that they can participate in. Community members can also attend “Coffee with George” – a meeting time for the Library Director to meet with the public.